High school administrator

Mandated Disclosures

NIU provides information about the performance of our teacher candidates on state-mandated licensure tests. We also make available an estimate of the additional costs incurred by candidates as they complete licensure programs. Please find this information below.

Obtaining a first professional certificate or license in any profession takes a great deal of training and education. There are some very real costs associated with it as well. Becoming a teacher requires multiple expenditures throughout your program of study, and we want you to be aware of them to help you plan and achieve your goal of becoming a teacher.

The total costs are not trivial, but they are a required part of the overall expense of joining the profession. While we cannot predict all contingencies (having to take a test multiple times, needing more than one criminal background check, etc.), to the best of our ability, these are the estimated costs associated with becoming a teacher in Illinois:

Time Frame Requirement Expected Cost
Sophomore Year One criminal background check (CBC) (ISBE-mandated) $75 (average fee, although these fees vary widely)
One tuberculosis test (TB test), at University Health Services $17 (if you opt for your own insurance plan or use student insurance; costs higher if obtained elsewhere)
Junior Year Illinois State Board of Education, content test (paid to Pearson/NCS) $135, computer-based administration
Two criminal background checks (CBC) (ISBE-mandated) $75 (average fee)/total: $150
One tuberculosis test (TB test), at University Health Services $17
Senior Year Illinois State Board of Education, additional content test for additional endorsement area or second field (paid to Pearson/NCS) $135, computer-based administration
One tuberculosis test (TB test), at University Health Services $17
Teacher Performance Assessment (TBD) TBD
One criminal background check (CBC) (ISBE-mandated) $75 (average fee)
One physical (from provider of your choice) $30-$70 (average fee)
End of Program Teaching license registration fee Once you have graduated and/or completed your program, you will have to pay the ISBE $100 to activate your teaching license.
Total Costs $716 over three years

If you have any questions about these costs, please speak to your program advisor, to the Financial Aid Office, or to the University Office of Educator Licensure and Preparation.

Note: While we have included four criminal background checks in our estimates, some programs are structured so that students may be required to have as many as 10, adding an additional $390. All costs for CBCs are estimates only and vary widely by placement sites.

Data reported for academic year 2023-2024.

Measures 1 and 2: Completer Effectiveness and Satisfaction of Employers

Completer effectiveness and employer satisfaction are measured by performance evaluations of graduates in their first year of employment.

96% of initial and advanced NIU graduates employed in Illinois public schools were rated at proficient or higher by their employers in their first year of teaching.

Demonstrated Teaching Skills/impact on K-12 Students (as first year in-service teachers)
Performance Evaluation Initial (Undergraduate) Advanced (Graduate)
Excellent 27.55% 47.7%
Proficient 67.35% 50%

Measure 3: Candidate Competency at Completion

Upon program completion, 515 candidates received endorsements linked to professional educator licenses issued.

Candidate competency at completion is measured by performance on state tests.

Candidate Performance on Required Licensure Tests

First Attempt Best Attempts
N N Pass % Pass N N Pass % Pass
Statewide 16,349 12,217 75% 16,248 14,392 89%
Northern Illinois University 757 601 79% 722 676 94%

The passing score for all Illinois Content Area Tests is 240. The table below indicates the average scores for candidates at NIU and at the state level.

Program Level Passing Score NIU Average State Average
All 240 261 252
Initial 240 261 249
Advanced 240 262 257

Measure 4: Ability of Completers To Be Hired

Candidate placement in Illinois public schools:

  • Initial programs: 75.6% placed; 59.2% in high need areas
  • Advanced programs: 81.3% placed; 53.5% in high need areas

Latest Summary Data for Candidates in Licensure Programs

For specific information regarding each licensure program, please see the Illinois Educator Preparation Profile (IEPP). The IEPP has been developed as a tool for "accountability, continuous improvement, and transparency to strengthen teacher preparation statewide in the long term." To that end, in the IEPP, information is organized across four scored domains: Candidate Selection and Completion; Knowledge and Skills for Teaching; Performance as Classroom Teachers; and Contribution to State Needs. A domain may have up to four indicators, each of which has a minimum standard and a state target on a 100-point scale.

The public portal of the IEPP can be located at Illinois Educator Preparation Profile (ISBE).

Contact Us

Office of Educator Licensure and Preparation
Williston Hall 320
815-753-0846
TeacherCertification@niu.edu